Electrical connector



March 14, 1967 R. L. ZUBKO ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 26, 1965 FlG. I

FlG. 2

INVENTOR RONALD L. ZUBKO ATTORNEY March 14, 1967 R ZUBKO ELECTRICALCONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 26, 1965 INVENTOR RONALD L. ZUBKOATTORNEY United States Patent 3,399,644 ELECTRIQAL (IONNECTGR Ronald L.Zubko, Michigan City, Ind, assignot: to Clark Equipment Company, acorporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 450,732 9 Claims.(Ci. 339-97) This invention relates to marker lamps for use withsemi-trailers and the like, and more specifically to an electricalconnector which provides a connection point suitable for use withdifferent types of marker lamps.

Semi-trailers, for example, are required by law to have marker lights onthe sides, front and rear thereof. Because of the construction of thesemi-trailer it is often advantageous to have one type of marker lampwhich is intended to be secured to the top side longerons of ti esemi-trailer and another type of lamp which is better suited to beattached to the front and rear ends of the semi-trailer. It is commonpractice to run a wire longitudinally along the top side longerons of asemi-trailer and have the marker lamps provide-d with a recess along thebottom thereof to accept the wire and have a bayonet type piercingconnector for providing the electrical connection between the insulatedconductor and the lamp. An example of such an arrangement is shown inUS. Patent No. 3,087,051 issued to I. 1. Black on Apr. 23, 1963. On theother hand, where the back and front ends of a semi-trailer areconcerned it is often desirable to use a marker lamp having afiat backfrom which a short length of insulated conductor, commonly referred toas a pigtail, protrudes and which is connected to the main electricalconductor which normally is carried inside the semi-trailer wall. Thus,as can be seen it is not unusual to utilize two or more types of markerlamps on a single semi-trailer. Such an arrangement is undesirable froma purchasing standpoint because of the need of maintaining an inventoryof two or more different types of marker lamps. Further, it isundesirable from a manufacturing standpoint because of the differentoperations required for connecting the different types of marker lampsto the electrical circuit of the semi-trailer.

In view of the foregoing, it is a principal object of my invention toprovide an electrical connector which permits the use of the same typeof marker lamp whether the main electrical conductor is carried on theoutside of the semi-trailer or on the inside of the semi-trailer.

Another object of my invention is to provide an electrical connectorwhich is suitable for use with widely varying types of marker lamps.

A further object of my invention is to provide an inexpensive, readilymanufactured electrical connector.

In carrying out my invention in a preferred embodi ment thereof, Iprovide a generally T-shaped electrical connector which has a cross-barto which a stem is attached. The connector includes a first bore whichextends the length of the stem and through the cross-bar. Also, apartition divides the bore into two parts along part of the lengththereof. The connector is adapted to have the stem thereof inserted intoan opening in a trailer tall, for example, until the cross-bar abuts thewall. A conductor is then brought from the inside of the wall throughthe bore, around the partition, and then back through the bore. Theconnector also is provided with a second bore in the cross-bar whichextends into it from one side thereof and a substantially smalierdiameter bore which extends from one end of the cross-bar to the firstbore and intersects the second bore. A marker lamp assembly can then beattached to the trailer wall in overlying relation to the crossbar sothat the type which is provided with a bayonet piercing member canpierce the conductor which is doubled over the partition to proilihibi iice vide an electrical connection, or, if the type of marker lamp whichis used is provided with a pigtail, the end of the pigtail can beinserted into the second bore and then a wire brad or the like can beinserted through the third bore to provide an electrical connectionbetween the conductor and the pigtail.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of my inventionwill become more readily apparent to one skilled in the art when thefollowing detailed description is taken in conjunction with the attacheddrawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded isometric view of my invention in conjunctionwith a marker lamp having a bayonet piercing member for makingelectrical connection between the lamp and the conductor held in placeby the anchor,

FIGURE 2 is an exploded isometric view of my invention in conjunctionwith another type of marker lamp in which a short length of flexibleconductor extends from the lamp and is used to make electricalconnection with the conductor carried by the anchor.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view partially in cross-section of the partsshown in FIG. 1 in assembled relation,

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view in partial cross-section of the parts shownin FIG. 2 in assembled relation, and

FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 show plan, side and end views, respectively, of theelectrical connector.

Referring now to the drawing, the reference numeral 10 denotes generallya sheet or plate which is shown in phantom outline in FIGS. 1 and 2.Plate 19 preferably is aluminum, although other similar materials may beused, and will be assumed for purposes of discussion to form a portionof a semi-trailer wall to which it is desired to attach a marker lamp.Plate 16 includes an annular opening 12 therein which receives anelectrical connector 14 to which a flexible insulated conductor 16 isconnected. A marker lamp assembly is arranged to be secured to plate It)in overlying relation relative to con nector 14 by sheet metal screws20.

Referring now specifically to FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, electrical connector 14will be described in detail. Connector 14 is molded preferably of anon-conductive plastic and includes a generally rectangular elongatedcross-bar 22 and a stem 24 connected to cross-bar 22 intermediate theends thereof. Stern 24 is generally circular in cross-section and has aslight taper toward the end 26 opposite cross-bar 2. Extendinglongitudinally of crossbar 22 in the top surface thereof is a groove 28.Extending through stem 24 between end 26 and groove 28 is a pair ofbores or passages 30 which are separated by a partition 32. Whileconnector 14 has been characterized as having a pair of bores oil instem 24 which is separated by a partition, this arrangement can becharacterized as a single bore which is separated by a partition whichextends partially along the length of the bore. Extending into cross-bar22 from one side thereof is a bore 34 which is adapted to receive aconductor as will be explained later. Another bore 36 extends betweengroove 28 and one end of cross-bar 22 and intersects bore 4, as shown.

Referring back now to the other figures, connector 14 is adapted to havestem 24 inserted through opening 12 in plate it and cross-bar 22disposed in abutment with one side of plate It Connector 14 is held inplace by means of a tubular member 38 which telescopes over stem 24frictionally engaging it, and has one end thereof in abutment with theother side of plate 19. Now, a flexible insulated conductor 16 isextended through tubular member 38, through one of the bores 36, aroundpartition 32 and back down the other of bores 39.

As will now be appreciated, by passing conductor 16 through connector 14as described hereinabove con- -conductor 58 extends.

ductor 1-6 is held in a given location on the outside of plate It) sothat it is readily connectible to different types of market lampassemblies.

With connector 14 held in place in plate It) and conductor 16 disposedin connector 14 as described hereinabove, it is a simple matter tosecure a marker lamp assembly 18 of the type shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 toplate 10 and electrically connect it to conductor 16. Marker lampassembly 13 has a recess 40 which extends along the back thereof andwhich is adapted to receive crossbar 22 of connector 14. Disposed inrecess 49 is a sharp piercing member or bayonet 4.2 of any suitableconductive material. Also mounted on the back of the assembly 18 is apair of serrated metallic projections 44 which serve to engage plate 10and ground assembly 18 to plate it).

In mounting assembly 18 on plate 10, assembly 18 is disposed inoverlying relation to cross-bar 22 so that cross-bar 22 is received inrecess 49 substantially centrally longitudinally thereof. Then, screws26 are inserted through openings 46 in assembly 18 to engage plate 10.Screws 2 3 are then tightened down to draw the back of assembly 18 intoabutment with plate 10, whereupon bayonet member 42 pierces theinsulation of conductor 16 to complete an electrical connection betweenconductor 16 and assembly 18 and at the same time members 44 groundassembly 18 to plate 10. As a result, a completed electrical circuit isprovided through conductor 16 by which an electrical current passesthrough conductor 16, assembly 18 and then to plate It as isconventional in grounded electrical systems in the automotive art.

Connector 14 also makes it a simple matter to mount a marker lampassembly 48 of the type shown in FIGS. 2 and 4 to plate 10. Marker lampassembly 48 has a flat back from which a short length of a flexibleinsulated conductor 5t} extends centrally thereof and is commonlyreferred to in the art as a pigtail. A mounting plate 52 of at least thesame thickness as cross arm 22 is disposed intermediate plate 19 and theback of marker lamp assembly 43 and has an opening 54 therein throughwhich The free end of conductor St" is inserted in bore 34 (FIG. 5) ofconnector 14. After the free end of conductor 59 is inserted in bore 34a conductor member 56 is then inserted in bore 36 to elec tricallyconnect conductor 59 with conductor 16. In practice, I have found that acommon wire brad serves very well as conductor 56. After conductor 56 isinserted in bore 36 the excess length of conductor 53 is coiled withinopening 54 as mounting plate 52 is brought into abutment with plate 1t}and the back of assembly 48 is placed in abutment with mounting plate52. Screws 2% are extended through suitable screw openings 58 and 60 inassembly 48 and plate 52, respectively, to threadably engage plate Itand hold assembly 48, plate 52 and plate 10 in assembled relation.

While my invention has been described in conjunction with a groundedelectrical circuit for a semi-trailer, it will be readily appreciatedthat it is not limited in application to a grounded type electricalcircuit nor, for that matter, limited in application to vehicles. Theabovedetailed description is intended to be illustrative only :and thescope of my invention should be determined from the following appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. An article of manufacture comprising a cross-bar, :a stem connectedto said cross-bar intermediate the ends thereof, a groove in saidcross-bar, a pair of passages extending between said groove and the endof said stem opposite said cross-bar, a first bore in said cross-bar,and a second bore in said cross-bar which connects with said groove andintersects said first bore.

2. An electrical connector comprising an elongated cross-bar having agenerally rectangular cross-section, a

cylindrical stem extending from said crossbar intermediate the endsthereof, a longitudinally extending groove in the surface of saidcross-bar opposite said stem, a pair of substantially parallel bores insaid stern which extend between said groove and the end of said stemopposite said cross-bar, a third bore in said cross-bar which extendsinto said cross-bar from one side thereof, and a fourth bore in saidcross-bar which extends between said groove and one of the ends of saidcross-bar and intersects said third bore.

3. For use with a vehicle having a grounded electrical system and aconductive plate with an opening therein,

'the combination of an electrical connector having a crossbar, a stemextending from said cross-bar intermediate the ends thereof and a pairof bores extending through said stern between said cross-bar and the endof said stern opposite said cross-bar, said connector being disposed sothat said stem extends through the opening and said cross-bar abuts onesurface of the plate, an elongated flexible conductor extending throughthe opening and one of said bores from the other side of the plate andthen back through the other of said bores, and a tubular member throughwhich said conductor extends, said tubular member frictionally engagingsaid stem and being disposed to abut the other side of the plate so thatsaid conductor is held in place in the opening.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 3 and including a lamp assemblyattached to the plate, a recess which receives said cross-bar andconnection means for electrically connecting said assembly to saidconductor.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 3 and including a lamp assemblyattached to the plate, a separate mounting plate with an opening thereinwhich receives said crossbar, said mounting plate being disposed betweenthe plate and said assembly, and means for electrically connecting saidassembly to said conductor.

6. A combined electrical connector and conductor anchor comprising across-bar, a stem connected to said cross-bar intermediate the endsthereof, a pair of bores extending the length of said stem and throughsaid crossbar, a third. bore in said cross-bar, and a fourth bore insaid cross-bar which connects with one of said pair of bores andintersects said third bore.

7. An article of manufacture comprising a cross-bar, a stem connected tosaid crossbar intermediate the ends thereof, a first bore extending thelength of said stem and through said bross-bar, a partition extendingpartially along the length of said bore to divide said bore into twoparts for a portion of its length, a second bore disposed in saidcross-bar, and a third bore connecting with said first and intersectingsaid second bore.

S. For use with a plate having an annular opening therein, thecombination of an electrical connector having a generally rectangularlyshaped cross-bar, a cylindrically shaped stem connected to saidcross-bar intermediate the ends thereof, a bore which extends the lengthof said stem and through said cross-bar and a partition which extendspartially along the length of said bore and divides said bore into twoparts along part of its length, said connector being disposed so thatsaid stem extends through the opening and said cross-bar abuts one sideof the plate, a tubular member disposed to frictionally engage said stemand abut the other side of the plate, an elongated flexible conductorwhich extends from the other side of the plate through said tubularmember, the opening and said bore, around said partition and then backthrough said bore, and a lamp assembly secured to the plate in overlyingrelation relative to said cross-bar, said assembly having a bottom, arecess in said bottom which receives said cross-bar so that said bottomcan be mounted flush against the plate and a piercing connector locatedin said recess for electrically connecting said conductor and saidassembly when said assembly is secured to the plate.

9. For use with a plate having an annular opening therein, thecombination of an electrical connector having a generally rectangularlyshaped cross-bar, a cylindrically shaped stern connected to saidcross-bar intermediate the ends thereof, a bore which extends the lengthof said stem and through said cross-bar, a partition which extendspartially along the length of said bore and divides said here into twoparts along a part of its length, a second bore extending into saidcross-bar from one side thereof and a thirdbore which connects saidfirst bore and one end of said cross-bar and intersects said secondbore, said connector being disposed so that said stem extends throughthe opening and said cross-bar abuts one side of the plate, a tubularmember disposed to friction-ally engage said stern and abut the otherside of the plate, a first elongated flexible conductor which extendsfrom the other side of the plate through said tubular member, theopening and said bore, around said partition and then back through saidbore, a mounting plate having an opening therein which receives saidcross-bar,

a lamp assembly secured to the plate in overlying relation relative tosaid cross-bar and with said mounting plate located intermediate saidassembly and the plate, said assembly having a second elongated flexibleconductor with a free end, the free end of which is inserted into saidsecond bore, and a third conductor inserted in said third bore forelectrically connecting said first and second conductors.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1952 Cotter28776 1/1960 Buck 2408.2

1. AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING A CROSS-BAR, A STEM CONNECTED TOSAID CROSS-BAR INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF, A GROOVE IN SAIDCROSS-BAR, A PAIR OF PASSAGES EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID GROOVE AND THE ENDOF SAID STEM OPPOSITE SAID CROSS-BAR, A FIRST BORE IN SAID CROSS-BAR,AND A SECOND BORE IN SAID CROSS-BAR WHICH CONNECTS WITH SAID GROOVE ANDINTERSECTS SAID FIRST BORE.